May 9, 2025

Some day, I will read these updates to Mike that chronicle his amazing journey from stroke to recovery. This title alone will put a big smile on his face 😀

Change is the only constant in life.

Mike is still Mike…but different.

He is unbelievably somehow stronger in his vulnerability. Sincere gratitude oozes out of every pore. It’s like those books where you can choose an alternate ending to the story. The fact that he has a choice is not lost on him.

Pain: The head pain reappears every now and then but it is not as severe and distracting as it once was. There is now an overall body pain. His muscles are alive and well, screaming at him.

Being stuck in the bed is really flaring up his back pain. Luckily, he can reposition himself easier which helps. Heating pads give some temporary relief.

Statistics say the most improvement for stroke victims is seen in the first 3-6 months.

Well, ladies and gentlemen…
(Insert drum roll) ONE month in and not only is he moving that left side but he WALKED down the hallway yesterday.

Under his own power.

Just holding onto a railing with his right hand.

(Writer’s Note: This was somewhat misleading. Mike can be very convincing. After talking with the staff, they confirmed he took a few steps on his own but not the whole hallway. He did hang onto the railing and someone was behind him with the wheelchair.)

No walker. No leg brace.

No exoskeleton.

It was slow. It was tiring. It was awkward. But it was all him.

PT: They are using Electric Stimulation Therapy.

Per Google:
“Electric Stimulation Therapy, often referred to as E-stim, uses low-voltage electrical currents to stimulate muscles and nerves for muscle strengthening and rehabilitation. It involves applying electrodes to the skin and delivering electrical impulses to target specific areas of the body.”

OT: He is doing a lot of exercises to get back his left arm, hand and finger movement. He has no grip and that is usually the last part to come back with this type of paralysis. The E-stim right now is doing all the work and he can feel that difference. It’s not coming from his own effort…yet.

It is nice to see him more clear-minded. The brain fog seems to have lifted. He is laser-focused on one goal: Do whatever it takes to get home.

He’s been requesting more therapy past the 3-hour/day limit they offer. He can see that finish line in the distance and he’s gunning hard for it with fire in his eyes!

Vision: This is proving to be quite a challenging obstacle. He can’t see TV well. He can’t read texts either even with the large text settings on his phone. And
he’s experiencing a phenomenon known as Charles Bonnet syndrome.

Per Google:
“Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) can occur after a stroke, particularly when the stroke damages visual pathways or the occipital cortex (the part
of the brain responsible for processing visual information). In this case, CBS is characterized by visual hallucinations in people who have lost some or all of their vision, while maintaining normal cognitive function. These hallucinations can be vivid and complex, and may appear as patterns, faces, or even entire scenes. When the brain loses visual input from the eyes, it can compensate by generating hallucinations to fill in the gaps.”

(Side note: Isn’t the brain incredible? Wow.)

He mostly reports seeing grey cats running around and little kids hiding and playing, sometimes coming down through the ceiling. These visions started in Albany Med and I thought it was part of the delirium but it’s been a continuing issue. He’s getting used to it but is a little freaked out at times. If you know Mike, you know that says a lot. Not much rattles him.

But he also sees me and says I look like a beautiful angel, so at least everything is not a hallucination😜

Happy Friday, folks! Life is good and God is great 🙏 ❤️

Please pray for continued healing and recovery. Mike extends his thanks to every one of you for the prayers, food and chocolate milkshakes.